Ratchet wrench



April 4, 1933.

R. Bf PATTERSON RATCHET WRENCH Filed Oct. 25, 1930 Patented Apr. 4,1.933

UNITED STATES PATENT ol-Flclal RICHARD B. PATTERSON, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS,- SIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TOPANSY H. MILLER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND ONE- HALF TO H @c E STANDARD'AUTO PARTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A :PARTNERSHIP` COMPOSED 0F FRANK S.HEIMBACH AND HAROLD J'. ELLSWORTH RATCHET WRENCH Application led October25, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in ratchet wrenches. One objectis to provide a ratchet wrench which may be instantly adj usted to causeright or left hand rotation. A. further object is to provide a ratchetor socket Wren ch that is very simple in construction, of few parts,positive and efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Vvlith the foreOoing and other objects in View the invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts to be herein.- after fullydescribed, pointed out in the claim and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part of this application for patent and in which-Fig. 1 is a face view of a wrench embodying the present invention.

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the wrench in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is an inverted face view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the chuck or head and workengaging member in section.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken, respectively, upon thelines 5 5 and 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

The present tool comprises a handle to one end of which a chuck isadjustably and releasably secured, the chuck carrying a rotary workengaging member which may be caused to rotate in one or the otherdirection accor-ding to the adjustment of the chuck with respect to thehandle, the handle having one double-shouldered end, the shouldersthereof being alternately or selectively adapted for frictionalengagement with the work engaging member whereby the direction ofrotation thereof is determined.

The reference numeral 1 denotes the elongated handle which is preferablytapered slightly from its widest point 2 to its free end 3 which may beformed with the perforation 4 to permit the tool to be suspended from ahook or like support when not in use. The handle at its opposite end isformed with the oppositely disposed marginal straight shoulders 5, 6connected by the plane edge or end 7. Spaced inwardly from the end 7 ofSerial No. 491,204.

the handle the same is formed with the deep recess or cavity 8 for thesmall expansion coil spring 9 adapted to serve as a seat for the tinyball 10 which is of such diameter as to permit it to snugly enter saidrecess, said handle being formed further, between said cavity 8l and end7, with the perforation 11 through which the screw 12a extends thatpivotally connects said handle to the parallel spaced ears 12, 13between which said handle is received, said ears being integral with thehollow chuck or head 14, the perforation 15 in the ear 13'being threadedfor engagement with the threads of the screw 12a, the perforation in theear 12 being nonthreaded. The chuck is formed with a peripheral slot 13aof greater ext-ent than the width of the handle end to provide clearancefor the same to engage the work engaging member to be hereinafterdescribed.

The ear 12 is of greater length than the ear 13 and at its free end isformed with the adjacent cavities 16, 17 arranged in the circumferenceof a circle the center of which would be the handle perforation 11, saidcavities being adapted to interchangeably receive the ball 10 wherebythe ear 12 is releasably locked in adjusted position relative to thehandle.

The chuck 14: is formed with one lateral face 18 having a centralcircular perforation 19 therein, the opposite side or face of said chuckbeing open to receive the rotary work engaging spool shaped member 20formed upon one face with the boss 21 received in the said perforation19, said spool being formed also with the large or wide flange 22 andwith the narrow iange 23 between which members is the tread of the spooladapted for engagement with either of the shoulders 5, 6 of the handle.The spool is formed, further, with the stud 24, square in cross sectionor end elevation projecting from one end face and adapted for insertionin the socket or cavity of the work to be rotated or actuated.

When the ball l0 is seated in the cavity 16, as shown in Fig. 6, theshoulder 5 is in frictional engagement with the tread of the spool andeifectually'prevents rotation of the same in one direction so that whenthe stud is applied to the work it will move it in one direction. Bymanually moving the chuck and ears into such position that the ball 10Will be disposed in the cavity 17 as shown in Fig. l the shoulder 6 isin frictional engagement with the tread of the spool and effectuallyprevents rotation of the same, with the stud, in the opposite direction.The shoulders 5, 6 also prevent lateral displacement of the spool memberthrough Contact With the ianges thereof. Thus it is obvious that theWrench may be employed to rotate the work in either a right or left handdirection and that the setting of the tool or changing of the same fromright to left or vice versa is instantaneous.

While the preferred form and arrangement of the various elementscomprising the Wrench have been shown and described, it Will beunderstood that the invention is susceptible of considerablemodification Without departing from the essential feature or sacriicingany of the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is In a ratchet Wrench, a hollow chuck open at one endand at its other end provided With an annular flange defining a centralopening, an annular Wall for the chuck being formed with an opening, aspool in said chuck rotatable therein and having fianges at its endsfitting snugly in the chuck with one flangeclosing the open end of thechuck, ears extending from said chuck above and below the opening in themarginal Wall, one ear being longer than the other, a handle having itsfront end litting between said ears, a fastener extending through theears and handle to pivotally mount the handle, the front end of thehandle being cut straight across t0 form a flat end face and having itscorners cut diagonally to form flat corner faces intersecting ends ofthe end face and forming teeth to be selectively moved into grippingengagement with the marginal face of the spool between its flanges byrocking the handle upon its pivot7 the longer arm being formed withrecesses in its inner face spaced from each other transversely thereofand a latch carried by said handle to engage in said recesses andreleasably secure the handle in a set position with a desired tooth inengagement with the spool.

In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed mysignature.

RICHARD B. PATTERSON.

